The American Manufacturing Council was a group of prominent chief executives set up to advise U.S. president Donald Trump on domestic manufacturing initiatives. It was chaired by Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical Company.
Following the withdrawal of several members after Trump's defense of alt-right protestors at the Unite the Right rally, Trump on August 16, 2017, disbanded the council, as well as the Strategic and Policy Forum. The council itself had earlier informed the president that they intended to disband on their own initiative.
Members
+ Former Members of the American Manufacturing Council Name Title Entity Membership Status William M. Brown CEO Harris Corporation member until disbandment Michael Dell CEO Dell Technologies Inc member until disbandment John J. Ferriola CEO Nucor member until disbandment Jeff Fettig CEO Whirlpool Corporation member until disbandment Mark Fields CEO (former) Ford Motor Company resigned in May after leaving Ford Kenneth Frazier CEO Merck & Co. resigned August 14 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Alex Gorsky CEO Johnson & Johnson resigned August 16 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Gregory J. Hayes CEO United Technologies resigned August 16 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Marillyn Hewson CEO Lockheed Martin member until disbandment Jeff Immelt Chairman General Electric resigned August 16 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Jim Kamsickas CEO Dana Inc member until disbandment Klaus Kleinfeld CEO (former)Arconic resigned in April after leaving Arconic Brian Krzanich CEO Intel resigned August 14 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Richard G. Kyle CEO Timken Company member until disbandment Thea Lee Deputy Chief of Staff AFL–CIO resigned August 15 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Andrew Liveris CEO Dow Chemical Company member until disbandment Mario Longhi CEO (former) U.S. Steel resigned in June after retiring from U.S. Steel Denise Morrison CEO Campbell's resigned August 16 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Dennis Muilenburg CEO Boeing member until disbandment Elon Musk CEO Tesla resigned in June over U.S. withdrawal from Paris climate accord Doug Oberhelman Executive Chairman Caterpillar Inc. member until disbandment Scott Paul President Alliance for American Manufacturing resigned August 15 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Kevin Plank CEO Under Armour resigned August 14 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Michael B. Polk CEO Newell Brands member until disbandment Mark Sutton CEO International Paper member until disbandment Inge Thulin CEO 3M resigned August 16 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Richard Trumka President AFL–CIO resigned August 15 after Trump statements regarding events in Charlottesville Wendell Weeks CEO Corning Inc. member until disbandment
Resignations and disbandment
Paris Agreement In June 2017, Elon Musk announced his resignation from the council. He stated departure from the council was a direct response to the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
Unite the Right Rally In Charlottesville, Virginia Seven executives resigned from the council in response to Trump's response to the violence at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12, 2017. The first executives to resign were drugmaker Merck & Co. CEO Kenneth Frazier, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. On August 15, 2017, Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, also resigned. The same day, Richard Trumka and Thea Lee resigned, stating that "We cannot sit on a council for a President who tolerates bigotry and domestic terrorism."
Disbandment Following the withdrawal of the members, Stephen A. Schwarzman and the remaining members decided to disband the Council during a conference call on August 16, 2017. Schwarzman called Trump the same day to announce that they had decided to disband the Council. Trump tweeted shortly after that saying that he and the group had agreed to disband the Council, as well as the Strategic and Policy Forum.
See also President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness (2011–2013) – an earlier similar board Strategic and Policy Forum (January–August 2017) – another board also disbanded
References